Gift ideas for the traveler

If you're like me, you tend to think that if you have your luggage, passport, and wallet, you're set for the road. As for the rest, you could practically go without or buy it at your destination.

But I came across some pretty neat conveniences in Boston Globe's article "25 coolest travel gadgets." (And I ended up buying one of them as a Christmas present, too.)

What stood out:

• Joby's Gorillapod: a bendable, wrappable tripod for your camera ($24.95-54.95)
• Swisscard: a flat, credit card-sized version of a Swiss Army knife ($35)
• Super Pen Translator: a hand-held scanner that 'reads' and translates text (and even dictates English) ($229)
• Yoga-SYZ's Yoga Paws: mitts that slip on your feet and hands, replacing the yoga mat while traveling ($29.95)

With the holidays in full-swing, the Washington Post and Travel Writer's Life also recently published their own travel gift lists.